WARSAW – The Wabash girls basketball team looked like one of the state’s best in Class 2-A with a performance to remember Tuesday night.

Warsaw’s Kilee Slone drives through traffic Tuesday night versus Wabash.

Host Warsaw, on the other hand, had a night to forget.

The Apaches, No. 8 in the Class 2-A poll, rolled to a dominating 54-27 win over the Tigers.

Junior guard Claire Cromer canned 19 points and senior forward Kyleigh Hampton had 18 as Wabash improved to 7-1 against a short-handed Warsaw squad.

Senior Brooklyn Harrison scored seven points to pace the Tigers, who saw their two-game win streak snapped to fall to 2-4.

Made shots for Warsaw were as hard to come by as a warm summer breeze on a downright chilly Tuesday evening. The Tigers missed their first 16 shots of the contest en route to an ice-cold 9-50 shooting performance.

The 27 points by the Tigers tied for the eighth lowest offensive output in program history.

Wabash, which shot an outstanding 20-36 from the field, led 11-3 after the opening period. The Apaches opened the second stanza with a 11-0 run to make it 22-3 and put the game away.

The Tigers, who were missing several players due to injury or illness, did not make a field goal until Pam Miller converted a layup with 2:04 left in the opening half to make it 25-6. The hosts hit 2-21 shots in the first half and trailed 28-9 at intermission. Cromer scored 11 first-half points, all in the second quarter, as Wabash shot 10-21.

“We stood a lot and were very predictable,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter of her team’s offensive woes in the opening half. “We talked about the high post being open against their defense and we didn’t look to get the ball there. We settled for too many outside shots too.”

The Apaches, winners of five in a row since their lone loss to Culver 46-32, never relented. Wabash shot 10-15 from the field in the final half, while Warsaw was 7-29. The Apaches ended up 8-14 from 3-point range, while the Tigers were 3-16.

Vicki Harris eyes a free throw attempt for the Tigers.

Harter thought the offensive struggles affected her team’s work on the defensive end.

“Our defense was very disappointing,” said Harter, whose team was allowing 43.8 points-per-game. “That’s been the focus of our program. Tonight we were very slow defensively. We were 2-3 steps behind and left shooters open. A big part of tonight was that we allowed not making shots to affect our defense.”

Warsaw, which won 55-52 at Wabash last year, was hurt by its lack of depth. Senior Nikki Grose, Warsaw’s 6-0 starting center, missed her second straight game due to a concussion and Jodie Carlson was out due to illness.

“It does change the dynamics of our team with players out,” admitted Harter. “We’ve got people playing in different roles.  It hurts us to be shorthanded, but we have to still play with confidence and consistency. Tonight we didn’t do that.”

Wabash, which opened Three Rivers Conference play by beating Tippecanoe Valley 56-44 Saturday night, entered play Tuesday night allowing just 34.9 ppg. The Apaches had seven blocked shots in the win, including four by the 5-11 Hampton.

The Apaches only had four players score Tuesday night. Lyndsie Thomas had 10 points and Sarah Puckett seven.

Kilee Slone netted six points and Miller five for the Tigers.

Warsaw begins Northern Lakes Conference play at undefeated Plymouth (6-0) Saturday night. Grose is doubtful to return for that game.

Kilee Slone follows through after a jumper for the Tigers.

“Saturday is going to be a tough matchup, regardless of who we have available,” said Harter, whose team won the NLC title at 6-1 last season. “We have to take better care of the ball, take advantage of the opportunities we have and finish shots.”

The Warsaw junior varsity team rolled to a 48-9 win over Wabash. Freshman Dayton Groninger led the winners with 15 points. Freshman Page Desenberg  and sophomore Tahya Bruce each scored eight points and sophomore Courtney Steffensmeier and freshman Madi Graham each added six.

Wabash (7-1) hosts Rochester Saturday night.